Shannon Family Wines Ovis Nero d'Avola is a premium red wine from the High Valley AVA within Lake County, California. The Ovis label is a special small-lot collection from Shannon Family of Wines — "Ovis" is Latin for sheep, a tribute to the flock of sheep the winery employs in its sustainable farming practices, which maintain the vineyards while preserving the natural ecosystem of Lake County's rugged landscape.

Nero d'Avola is a storied Italian grape variety originating in Sicily, prized for its rich fruit character, firm structure, and deep color. At Shannon Family's High Valley estate, the grape thrives on steep volcanic slopes at high elevation, where cool nights concentrate flavors and build complexity. This wine is sourced primarily from the estate's Round Mountain Vineyard and aged for 30 months in a combination of 75% French oak and 25% American oak barrels.

The 2019 vintage earned a 92-point score from Wine Review Online. The wine is vibrant on the nose, leading with aromas of fresh black cherry skin, plum, and cacao. On the palate it is medium-bodied and complex, unfolding with layered flavors of spiced cherry, fresh plum, black tea, rhubarb, and juicy currant. Lifting tannins and succulent acidity carry through to a lush, berry-driven finish with subtly spiced oak tones. With 15% ABV, this is a bold, food-friendly red that pairs well with grilled meats, hearty pasta, aged cheeses, and Mediterranean cuisine.